hola Amigos! ok, so I read recently that there are some planned new editions of the classic Akira Kurosawa films, The Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and possibly The Hidden Fortress. does anyone have any further information?

Actually There is some connection with a Terminal Station with Drunken Angel... or was it Stray Dog?? Anyways

You can get... well almost... all of his movies on DVD from Mei Ah, a Hong Kong company. The prints go from average to excellent. But.. Apparently the Japanese dialogue was translated into Chinese, then the Chinese translated into English. I think you can work out the result of this. quite amusing results in places. it tends to the more simple straight forward stuff that gets tied in knots. More detailed dialogue seems to be fine.

But they are super cheap on ebay as a plus. i bought a few about a year ago (2 for £10)

Mei Ah releases

SEVEN SAMURAI (already available from Criterion)NO REGRETS FOR OUR YOUTHIKIRU (available from Criterion)STRAY DOG ( soon available from Criterion)DRUNKEN ANGELSANSHIRO SUGATASHANSHIRO SUGATA IIONE WONDERFUL SUNDAYTHE MOST BEAUTIFULSANJURO (already available Criterion)YOJIMBO (already available Criterion)THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (already available Criterion)DODESKADENRECORD OF A LIVING BEINGHIGH AND LOW (available from Criterion)THE LOWER DEPTHS (available from Criterion)THE BAD SLEEP WELL (available from Criterion) THRONE OF BLOOD (already available Criterion release)THEY WHO STEP ON A TIGER'S TAILRED BEARD (available from Criterion)

In America, Criterion holds the rights to every Kurosawa film thorugh Dodes'kaden, but both Sanshiro Sugata and Dodes'kaden have been postponed indefinately due to element damages. They recently released Stray Dog, and will release The Lower Depths in short time. New subtitles also been written for Drunken Angel, The Bad Sleep Well, and I Live In Fear. I recently sent a mail to Criterion, asking if they had any plans to release either Those Who Make Tomorrow or The Quiet Duel (they're the only ones I can't track down), but there are no plans at this stage. Also, there are no plans for re-releases of early titles.

I think their running low on good prints. Stray Dog is not suppose to up to there normal print standards. My Hong Kong copy of sanshiro sugata is not that bad condition for a 1944 movie. Actually i kinda like dirt. as long as the image is in focus, and clear.

In the Uk it's BFI that realese them I have a couple of them(yojimbo,seven samurai,Throne of Blood)they are all brilliant prints but they don't have much in the way of extras .Although Yojimbo does have a full length commentry track I think but I haven't heard it.

I just watched the Criterion release of "The Bad Sleep Well"......devastating film.Great transfer..digitally restored...new & improved English subs..a 33 minute documentary on the making of the movie..a terrific booklet w/ essays by film critic Chuck Stephens and director Michael Almereyda.Wow...what a movie.I have no doubt that Sergio Leone loved & learned from this movie, too....& composer Masaru Sato's (Yojimbo..Sanjuro..among many others) influences on Morricone are as noticeable as ever.

"'Don't take any chances you don't have to, don't trust anybody you don't have to trust and don't do no favors you don't have to do"- Ace Hanna